Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board A Look at Postsecondary Correctional Education in Texas Ginger Gossman, Senior Director Innovation & Policy Development CAAP December 16, 2015
1972 – 1994 All inmates Pell eligible 2001 – 2010 Department of Education funds to state correctional agencies July 2015 Federal “Second Chance Pell Pilot” 2 History of PSCE Nationally
1965, 1966 First PSCE program through Alvin College, followed by Lee College 1969 Texas Legislature established Windham School District to provide oversight for all correctional education in the state 1996 Post-secondary Education Reimbursement (PSER) fund established 2013 PSCE moved to Texas Department of Criminal Justice (formerly with Windham SD) 3 History of PSCE in Texas
4 Incarcerated Students
Post-Secondary Education Reimbursement Loans State will pay for cost of academic course each semester Student must repay loaned amount as condition of parole Administered by TDCJ (not through THECB) 5 Financial Aid for PSCE Texas Public Education Grant Hazelwood Benefits Scholarships (if available) Direct pay I-25, Inmate Trust Fund Other Payment Options for PSCE
6 Contracted Institutions Alvin Community CollegeTexas A&M Central Texas Central Texas CollegeTrinity Valley Community College Lamar State CollegeUniversity of Houston – Clear Lake Lee CollegeWest Texas College Southwest Texas Junior CollegeClarendon College
7 Questions / Discussion